Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Parents are so cute!

This afternoon I heard a great story, and I'd like to share it with you and yours. The wife of a patient in the Waterbury hospital related that her mother passed away forty years ago, and her husband's father thirty seven years ago. Her father called her up a couple years later and said that he had found someone he wanted to marry. She said, "OK dad, that's great." Her father asked her to come meet his new bride the following Sunday. She said, "Sure, but it can't be at my place, because (some obscure reason which I can't remember)". Regardless, she showed up with her husband the following Sunday. Her father answers the door, and she saw her mother in law sitting on the couch. She said, "Hey, what's my mother in law doing in here?" Her father says, "Oh, so you've met my bride already?" Bada Bing.
Fine, so it was pretty obvious half way through. She told it much better, as is only to be expected. Anyway, the same Rabbi who performed the marriage service for her did the same for her father, and they lived together for 27 years. Impressive, eh? She also bragged a bit about her grandkids, because as she said, "Every yiddishe bubbe is entitled to schep a little nachas; what else are grandkids for?" The oldest grandson just graduated from Harvard Medical School, the next grandson is studying at Yale, and the third just turned Bar Mitzvah, and he's torn between the two schools. Of her three granddaughters not a word. Perhaps they've embarrassed the family and settled for Vassar. I really don't know. Anyway, they've been involved with Jewish life in New Haven for thirty years and still remember when bagels were twenty cents a dozen. Good times.

Moving right along, this morning I woke up, and seeing that the deadline for Shema was rapidly approaching, I recited it. I then woke up, saw that the deadline for Shema was rapidly approaching, and recited it. I then realized that the first time was a dream. I wondered if there was any Halachic significance to my saying of the Shema while I was still asleep. I assume that there isn't. Still, if anyone can posit any reason why I was exempt following the first Shema, then I'd love to hear it. After all, it may come in handy in the future.

28 comments:

e said...

I wonder, didn't the father know the mother-in-law? Hadn't they met at the story-relater's wedding? While they were going out, didn't they talk about their kids and realize that they were mechutanim? Or did the dad do it on purpose just to surprise the daughter? And why wasn't this post e-mailed to me?

Just like a guy said...

A. It was a surprise! You didn't get that?

B. I have no idea. I got the email...

Nemo said...

I used to do that dream thing a lot, though mine was in a state of semi-consciousness. There were those mornings we're I'd get through the entire Shachris and then wake up annoyed that I'd have to do it again, even though I clearly said every word the first time.

Nemo said...

By the way, I had a major double take reading that second paragraph, had to rad the first two lines about four times to figure it all out ...

Just like a guy said...

It worked!

Nemo said...

Ok, whatever, I'm going to use your blog as the RovingRabbis suggestion box again.

RootedRabbi, if your out there, nod if you can hear me ...

Mr. Rafi Andrusier (er hot nisht smicha) writes a post from Peru, which one, if they were Israeli, might find offensive.

Andrusier writes: "Most of us always have a special spot ... for that unique place we call home.

But not so for the thousands of Israeli tourists ... "

So Israelis don't have a "special spot" for their homes? Are they not capable of being sentimental?

In my encounters with Israelis, I've always found them to be quite the opposite. They're one group of people that will travel to the furthest reaches of the world and still speak endlessly about their homes ...

Just like a guy said...

Rooted Rabbi is getting sent an email...

Nemo said...

Oh, and that 'Village or City?' photo: what the heck is this blog (the endorsement of which I might rescind from my Chabad.org article after tonight) trying to document - Oholei Torahniks' first encounters with mankind?

Nemo said...

And yes, I got the humor of it, I just don't think it's that funny - probably because I've neither imbibed vodka nor cannabis this eve.

Just like a guy said...

Man, you're being pretty harsh. It's just supposed to be a humorous aside. Anyway, I hope that my status in the article is not affected.

Nemo said...

Stop infringing my rights to free-speech and than you're cool.

Nemo said...

Then, not than.

Just like a guy said...

Morality versus free publicity...Yeah, I'll take the publicity.

Nemo said...

Oh, and if that email is still being sent, tell the RootedRabbi to ask his desk-mate to follow up the email I sent him this morning.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Nemo
Staff-writer

P.S. Thanks for being the go-between TRS.

Just like a guy said...

The email was sent a while ago. Still, I'll send another. And you're quite welcome.

Nemo said...

Or, instead of just emailing him, send him a link to these comments - you can relay the message AND drive traffic to your blog :)

Just like a guy said...

Would he bite?

Nemo said...

I think he has in the past.

Just like a guy said...

Anyway, it's a moot point. I sent those emails off many moons ago (well, not quite).

Nemo said...

Ensure he bites by adding an inflammatory byline to the link, like "RovingRabbis Editors Blasted by TRS Readers," or "Rogue Merkos Rabbis Begin Counter Blog Under the Aegis of Lubavitch.com."

If he still doesn't click the link after that, hit him with a molestation scandal or something. It's all the vogue in the Orthodox world ...

Just like a guy said...

That's how this whole blog started! It was a counter blog to the original roving rabbis.
As for a molestation suit? I was actually thinking of suing some of these commenters who keep me up at 3:00 AM...

Nemo said...

The headline of the latest CH. info post (which used to sit eerily on the side of your main page) comes to mind - "nothing better to do at 2:50 AM?"

Just like a guy said...

Funny, I was thinking the same thing myself. And what do you mean "used to" and "eerily"?

Nemo said...

Oh, there it is again. It disappeared for some reason as I was typing that comment.

Eerily, because I noticed it not a few moments before and noticed the time.

Just like a guy said...

Woooo. Spooky.

Cheerio said...

great story, only i'm slightly confused. story-relater's father passes away forty years ago... and then calls her up a few years later to tell her he's getting married?!?!!

wooo. spooky, indeed.

also, not to make a point of my femininity again (although i guess in saying that, i just did), but i've never had that kind of dream. maybe because i don't have deadlines to daven?

Nemo said...

It's not just the deadlines, it's the convenience :)

Just like a guy said...

Cheerio, my bad-I mixed up the parents. The scenario as I had it was, as you point out, rather spooky. I think that it's a bit more acceptable now.